THE INAUGURATION OF THE RENOVATED CHAPEL OF LEYTRA

Pilgrims from N.-D. de l?Hermitage love to go also to the chapel at Leytra (N.-D. de Pitié), so special to Father Champagnat. Indeed, Marcellin went there often on pilgrimage to entrust his projects to Mary?
But as this site progressively deteriorated, a process of restoration proved to be necessary? This has been accomplished!

On Saturday June 5th, at 10 o?clock, the inauguration of the renovated chapel of Leytra took place. Here is an extract of the speech given by Brother Auguste Gras on this occasion:

?This place has a history linked to the life of the men and women of our village. A long history, since the first mention of this chapel can be noted in 1482? The plague was common at this time. Those who suffered from this disease were excluded from the village and lived in huts in this area. Was this chapel built as a place of worship for the plague-stricken? It is noted that towards 1630 people used to come here to Leytra to pray to Mary under the title of Our Lady of Pity.

Today, the plague or cholera have practically disappeared. But does that mean that such a place would therefore become only a quaint historic monument? And if this place could preserve its tradition as a haven of peace where one can come to confide themselves to Mary ??